Archimedes Lab is a fun site with number puzzles, mind teasers and a great listing of facts about numbers. Well worth the time to check it out for those interested in math and those looking to add a bit of interest to their math studies!
Technorati Tags: curriculum, elementary, games, high school, homeschooling, junior high, math
One of the helpful things we’ve done this summer was to pick up a lanyard for our dancer’s summer intensive id. She hangs it around her neck for entrance to the studio and the bus, and stores it in her bag while she dances.
In addition to that id, we picked up Starbucks gift card and punched a hole in the corner and added it to the lanyard. We registered the card (in case it gets lost) and can reload it when she needs an update. Since Starbucks is just a short walk from the studio, she can get a cold drink or pick up a sandwich or salad if she needs, and has the card right with her. We know other parents who have taken the same approach with a Visa card. No more hunting for cash!
If there are other things you have done to help your dancer manage their money and spending at their intensive, I’d love to hear about it!
Technorati Tags: ballet, summer intensives
Here’s a quick look at our latest house guest who we have named Murray. His background is a bit of a mystery, but we do know he’s a fun loving boy who can play fetch for hours and loves to snuggle. Isn’t he cute?
Technorati Tags: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cavalier Rescue, Cavaliers, dog photos
Set is a game of visual perception and matching that’s popular with gifted kids and parents alike. Set was originally sold as a card game and available on Amazon from SET Enterprises Inc,
Set’s now available on-line as a New York Times puzzle! Personally, I find the cards easier than the on-line version but both are lots of fun.
Enjoy!
Technorati Tags: elementary, gifted, high school, homeschooling, junior high, games
Not surprising, when one group of students gain, another may pay the price. If you follow gifted education or are the parent of a gifted child, you may want to read today’s New York Times. The article by Sam Dillon titled “Report Sees Cost in Some Academic Gains” summarizes a study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
I found this quote from the article really summed things up, “And about three-quarters of the teachers surveyed said they agreed with this statement: “Too often, the brightest students are bored and under-challenged in school — we’re not giving them a sufficient chance to thrive.”
Have you ever heard of Cogito.org? I discovered it earlier this week. It’s a great site and offers interviews, news, discussion forums and listings of programs, competitions and summer opportunities.
The site is funded by the John Templeton Foundation and the folks from John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) are involved.
Take a look and let me know what you think!
Technorati Tags: curriculum, elementary, gifted, high school, homeschooling, junior high
One of the things our daughter has always done while dining out is check with the Chef and/or Manager before ordering. Usually the chef and management team is well-versed on ingredients and food preparation techniques.
Of course, we ran into the exception today with a small regional chain. My daughter did all the right things, asked the management about safe meal options and ordered in those guidelines. It wasn’t enough to prevent a reaction though. In reviewing the ingredients, seems the oil is a mixture between olive oil and a a liquid margarine component (containing gelatin) which was not mentioned by the Chef (’We don’t use margarine” meant “We don’t use margarine in recipes but may use oil with some mixed in.”). Not sure if it was enough of a factor to cause my daughter’s instant reaction or if it was unintentional cross-contamination in the kitchen.
Either way it’s a good reminder that one can’t be too careful and you always, always need to have emergency medicines with you. Fortunately two benadryl did the trick!
Technorati Tags: allergy, EpiPen, food allergies
One of the nice features in FAAN’s Food Allergy News is the ability for folks to write in with questions and have them answered by a professional.
This month, in the column “Answers to Diet Dilemmas” one reader asked if they should avoid fried food in a restaurant given their shellfish allergy. In the answer, it’s explained that in general the answer is yes, if the restaurant also fries shellfish, one should avoid fried foods there. The article then goes on to say that the restaurant may have two fryers and therefore the individual may be able to order a fried food safely. I can say that from my prior work in restaurants, even with two fryers, it is most likely NOT safe to eat fried food in a restaurant that also fries shellfish. While the restaurant may indeed have two or more fryers dedicated to certain foods, the oil is usually filtered at closing, through a single filtration system. The filtration systems are designed to pull out food particles and minimize fatty-acid buildup in the oil, prolonging the life of the oil in the fryer. Running the oil from different fryers, through the same filtration system, could create immediate cross-contamination of all the oil in the two fryers. To the best of my knowledge, the shellfish proteins released in the oil would not be filtered out.
I would strongly recommend that a shellfish-allergic individual not order any fried foods at a restaurant that features fried seafood on their menu.
Technorati Tags: allergy, food allergies
I just found a great site for math that I wanted to share with you all. If you are looking for math curriculum, program reviews, games or just about anything else related to math, you can find it on Living Math.
Technorati Tags: curriculum, gifted, high school, homeschooling, junior high, elementary
I was searching the internet this afternoon, and found a section on the American Academy of Allergy & Immunology site that listed the following statistics related to food allergies:
- Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from a food allergy (6.9 million allergic to seafood and 3.3 million allergic to peanuts or tree nuts)
- Allergies to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish account for 90% of all reactions in the U.S.
- Approximately 2.2 million school-aged children have food allergy
- One in every 17 children under the age of 3 has food allergy
- It is estimated that more than 150 people die annually from anaphylaxis to food
For more details and the research associated with the stats, please visit the AAAI.
Right now there is no cure for food allergies. The only way to manage a food allergy is with ’strict avoidance’ of the allergen and to always carry liquid benadryl and two epipens just in case of accidental contact/injestion. For medical guidance related to your allergy, please speak to your Dr. as I’m just a parent<g>.
Technorati Tags: allergy, EpiPen, parenting, food allergies